Washing-machine



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-'Sheet 1.

C. HOFFMAN.

W'A8HING MACHINE. N 0. 291,512. V Patented Jan. 8, 1884.

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xi fi hf I I E (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. HOFFMAN.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 291,512. Patented Jan. 8, 1884.

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. in which- 3 Nrrno TATES WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,512, dated January 8, 1884.

Application filed February 15, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Itepublie, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in VVashing-Machines; and

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements i washing-machines. It is to provide an easy, convenient, rapid, and effective means of washing and rinsing clothes of all kinds, .and to avoid the great wear of the clothes by wash ing-machines heretofore that have cleaned the clothes.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter set forth in the annexed drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view of the entire machine closed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine open; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the entire device when open.

The device consists of the box or tub A, supported by the legs B B the orifice o to draw off the water, and also the dirt as it settles to thebottonnand thehandles h 71?, for convenience in handling the machine. The bottom of the tub is best madein the form of an arc of a circle, and of any suitable material. In the frame of the tublis attached the cross-bar t, for attaching a wringing-machine. In the tub is placed the wash-board 0, made concave, best in the arc of a circle, (whose center is about the bolt f,) having a frame, q q, and cross-pieces a, a, alternating with journaled rollers b b. The rollers are best made eight-sided, and placed a little abovethelevel of the croSspieces. The crosspieces a a have in each a notch, 11 p", out out, so when in the tub there will be a space between the cross-pieces of the wash-board and the bottom of the tub to allow circulation of the water more freely, and to permit the dirt to settle'to the lower part of the tub, where it can be removed through the orifice 0. The

wash-board, when in the tub,rests close against the bottom, so that in using the tub the action in the notches p p is that of the water flowing down to the lower part of the tub, and carrying the dirt to that point, so that the dirt will not be thrown about, but as it comes from the clothes it is washed gradually down. The frame of the wash-board is hinged to the tub by means of the bolt 0, that, by turning it back, as shown, the tub may be washed and used as a rinsing-tub. The ears H are fastened to the sides of the tub byscrews, bolts, or other suitable device, and have the forks 7c, in which the bolts f work, to keep the rubber D perpendicular oyer the wash-board, and thus produce a uniform. pressure on all parts of the clothes. The cars have a suitable projection, j, on the side next to the frame G, to catch the extending bolt f as the frame G is lowered, and thus automatically throw the rubber in place. The frame G is attached to the tub by suitable hinges, d. It is composed of the pieces 8 and a" r,'stayed by strong iron braces e. The pieces 1" 1 have grooves g, in which the extending bolt f works, to adjust the rubber as described. This frame G, as shown, holds the rubber back when not in use. The rubber D is convex (best in the shape of an arc of a circle) on the under side, to fit closely to all parts of the wash-board.

It is made with sides m m", to which are fast ened crosspieces a a alternating with the journaled rollers b b". The rollers are preferably made eight-sided, and set a little below the level of the crosspieces, to prevent the wearing of the clothes while being washed, the position of the rollers and cross-pieces in the board 0 being reversed, and herein is one of the great advantages of myinvention. The 7 handles F F are attached to the sides'of the rubber, and near the middle of each are attached the journal-boxes n n for the bolts ff. The boxes are made of'iron or other suitable material, and these journal-bearings thus constructed make the rubber move easily. The handle E, by which the machine is operated, is attached to the pieces ll F.

I am aware that a wash-board has been provided with holes to allow Water to run from the top to the bottom; also, that a washingmachine has been devised in which the rubber has alternating rollers and cross-strips, the rollers projecting below the face of the strip. In such device the wash-board consists wholly of strips, and the clothes are held between the rollers and such strips. In my device they are held between rubbers, principally, the strips only aiding in working the clothes without havingsnfficient force to tear them. 5 Having described my invention,what I claim 1. In a washing-machine, the rubber D, having the cross-pieces a a and rollers 1) b the latter set below the face of the former, in combination with the board 0, having the crosspieces a a and the rollers b b, the latter set above the face of the former, whereby the i clothes will be operated on principally by the rollers, and danger of tearing lessened, as set forth. I 2. In a washing-machine, the board 0, having the rollers and cross-pieces provided with the grooves 19 as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HOFFMAN. \Vitnesses:

G. W. THRAsnER, J. T. XVI-UTE. 

